From left, a U.S. Soldier with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment speaks with a counterpart assigned to the 1st German/Netherlands Corps during a mission rehearsal exercise at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, March 10, 2013. The rehearsal exercises develop combat skills, counterinsurgency tactics and interoperability between military forces of the U.S. and its partner nations before a scheduled deployment. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Kayla Benson/Released)

HOHENFELS, Germany – U.S. Troops of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment and the 1st German-Netherlands Corps are training together during March at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center here for an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.

This is the second time that the units have trained together at JMRC. During this rotation, the 1st GNC will be training in support of 2CR as the higher headquarters.

“I trained with 2CR back in October and I’m impressed with the high level of readiness they have reached and especially the leadership and how they perform,” said Col. Piet Van Der Sar, 1st GNC, NATO Rapid Deployment Corps operations officer.

With the change of focus in the International Security Assistance Forces mission from security to assist and advise, the soldiers of 2CR are training to assist and advise the Afghans to assume full responsibility of Afghanistan by 2014.

“A mission can be led by one nation but it is always integrated by different nations, so if that’s the case and you have to train as you fight, then we should be training multinational,” he said.

There are fourteen nations training at JMRC for the Mission Rehearsal Exercise to train soldiers for their deployment to Afghanistan.

“JMRC requested us so U.S. forces can get used to the different nationalities as a [headquarters],” said Van Der Sar. “It’s to get them used to all the different procedures, like NATO procedures.”

As one of the largest nations in NATO, the U.S. has already developed many structured military standards. This MRE prepares 2CR to implement the NATO structure.

“JMRC will train the U.S. troops, but also as much as possible, they will integrate other nations into the training,” said Van Der Sar. “You’ll see the Romanians or the Bulgarians and they will operate as a nations security force [for the training].”

In addition to training 2CR, 1st GNC is training for their deployment later this year where they will be a part of the ISAF Joint Command.

The training is very realistic to what the Soldiers will be doing overseas.

“All the [troops] I brought to this training will be deployed to IJC and are also training for their role [there],” he said.

With the 2CR and the 1st GNC working together to improve their training and accomplish their mission in Afghanistan, international cooperation has improved, said Van Der Sar.

Further integration of U.S. forces in Europe as well as multinational training is to be expected for future operations, he added.